"Fun Introduction to a New Series"
In A GENTLEMAN BY ANY OTHER NAME Kasey Michaels introduces
the Becket family. A family joined together by their
hearts rather then birth, put together by their patriarch
Ainsley Becket. Chance Becket is the first Becket sibling
to have his own story and a delightful story it is. Chance is a widower with a small daughter, Alice, and in
the manner of the British aristocracy he knows little of
his daughter and is even a bit frightened of her--he is so
afraid of making a mis-step that will cause her pain. His
solution to the 'Alice' problem is to hire a Nanny for her
and take her to his family's home on the coast of England
at Romney Marsh. Where he intends to leave them and
return to London. Chance's simple solution becomes very complicated when he
hires Julia Carruthers as the Nanny. Julia is the
daughter of a Vicar who is quite used to speaking her mind
and even though she desperately needs this position she
cannot help but speak up at the treatment Chance gives his
daughter. She quickly realizes that Chance just doesn't
know how to relate to his daughter or her physical needs.
On the one hand he is afraid Alice will break and on the
other hand he is singularly obtuse about her endurance
when they are traveling. Of course, Alice tossing her
cookies in the carriage due to motion sickness brought on
by the rough roads does make him realize Julia knows far
better then him what to do with Alice. On their arrival at Romney Marsh, Julia and Chance are
immediately plunged into a morass of smuggling and gang
warfare as they discover a body of one of the local
smugglers in the road and move quickly to aid his brothers
and protect his family. Chance who had been sent by the Government to see how to
stop the smuggling as the Gov't sees it as aid to Napoleon
is immediately plunged into the middle of the action.
Chance quickly uncovers a gang called the Redmen that have
taken over much of the coast and are trying to intimidate
the locals into joining them. The Black Ghost gang has
risen up to challenge them and protect the locals. When
Chance hears the gang's name he immediately realizes his
brother Courtland is the leader of the Black Ghost's. Chance also tells his family that Julia is his fiancee in
an effort to keep her out of the mess until he can get
everything straightened out and Courtland extricated from
a potential scandal (if not hanging). Chance is also
horrified to discover his 17 year old sister Morgan has
been secretly dressing in costume and riding out the Ghost
gang. Julia on her part, is no stranger to smugglers and their
way of life--her father let their parishoners stow their
booty after a run in his church and was rewarded with the
occasional gift for his trouble. Julia immediately
realizes what is going on and her questions make Chance
fear for her safety, but Julia is no biddable miss and she
is determined to do what she can to help Chance and his
family. Whether they want her help or not. Chance is so enigmatic throughout the book it is hard to
get into his head, but for me this book was saved by the
very likable Julia and her strength made the relationship
between them completely believable. Many questions about the family, their background and the
tragedy in their past are hinted at and I am sure will be
resolved in the next books in the series. I for one am
very glad that Chance has a large number of brothers and
sisters and I would also really like to see a romance for
the patriarch Ainsley Becket, who has a very painful past
and is still bearing a lot of guilt about the murder of
his wife. It is wonderful to have a series start out on
such a high note and I will be looking forward to the next
story in the saga.
Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted March 27, 2006
| 
